'American Idol' Recap: Do You Hear the People Sing?

The inspirational, the quirky, and the miserable are showcased as the season 12 auditions continue in Chicago.

Michael Becker / Fox

Lazaro Arbos

AmericanIdol viewers know that Chicago has been a lucky city for the show: JenniferHudson, HaleyReinhart and season nine winner Lee DeWyze all hail from the area, and Thursday night’s show crackled with anticipation.

Of course, the show produced Reinhart in the flesh as the season 10 alum greeted the hopeful contestants with a flashy smile and a pep talk.

“I remember when I was sitting in that seat over there,” she said.

Of course, the passive-aggressive tension that began at the New York City auditions was bubbling under as well, as the insults and swipes between Nicki Minaj and Carey continued before (and during) the audition process.

Take, for example, the atrocious audition of AustinEarles, a 19-year-old from Lakeview, Mich., as he proceeded to destroy one of Carey’s hits, “Emotion.” Carey wanted to cut it off, but Minaj seized the opportunity to stick it to her.

“I would love to constantly hear that every day,” she said, as the bickering continued.

“I swear I feel like a scratching post,” Keith Urban said during a montage, set to a cover of Stealers Wheel’s 1973 hit “Stuck in the Middle With You.”

That doesn’t mean the show doesn’t have its light moments. Minaj’s ogling of the male contestants with her standard pickup line, “You have a girlfriend?” is making for some rather amusing on-camera magic.

“Is that a hole in your pants?” she asked one guy.

“Why? Ya looking?” he fired back.

That said, it was nice to see some levity in the show, as well as sisterly solidarity of Carey and Minaj over Zac Efron look-alike Griffin Peterson, who possessed a handsome face and vocals that underwhelmed Randy Jackson.

“Dude, I don’t get it,” he said.

However, he was overruled by Minaj, who insists that Peterson did more for her than JustinBieber ever did and that women would flock to his concerts in droves. At least on this issue, the female judges were in agreement.

The second-night premiere episode in the Windy City also blew in some familiar faces that faithful viewers might recognize: season 10 and 11’s Brandy Neeley, season 11’s Johnny Keyser (who famously kept singing when a girl in his group fainted onstage), season 11’s Curtis Finch Jr. -- a member of third-place finisher JoshLedet’s Hollywood Week group -- and ColtonDixon’s sister, Schyler (she earned a Golden Ticket, but her audition was not shown).

Although it’s great to see people get a second chance, the new blood is going to give them a run for their money. Here is how it played out:

The Good

MackenzieWasner, from Tennessee, whose father, Pete, is a prominent Nashville musician who co-wrote the Vince Gill song she auditioned with, “Whenever You Come Around." Wasner -- pretty, poised and rocking some purple eye shadow -- already is a showbiz professional: Her first gig was in kindergarten singing the “ABC” song. She said her father is “my own American Idol judge" at home. Carey was captivated, saying, “There’s a star power there.” Minaj was impressed and told her that it was “like listening to your first single.” Urban compared her to Dolly Parton and Lee Ann Womack, adding, ”You got this great mix of strength and vulnerability.” Wasner was put through with an emphatic “Pow!” from Carey.

KiaraLanier, from Chicago, looks like a star and already performed a high-profile gig singing for President Barack Obama for his birthday party. “He hugged me,” she gushed to Ryan Seacrest.Her song choice, Celine Dion’s “The Prayer” is a “big song,” according to Jackson, but Carey said she handled it with control and what she described as a “soft and pretty” vocal. “You’re a beautiful girl, and I love the way you went in and out of loud/soft,” she said. Minaj was taken by Lanier’s sense of style, saying, “You look great.” Urban compared her nuances to Aaron Neville, a spot-on assessment. She earned her Golden Ticket.

StefanieSchimel tries a soft and sultry version of “Dream a Little Dream of Me,” which Carey called “really pretty.” Urban found her to be an interesting “Carrie Underwood/Gwen Stefani blend,” but Minaj, threatened by Schimel’s similar choice of eye shadow, “wasn’t wowed.” “I thought your voice was pretty, you’re pretty, but nothing jumped at me," she said. "I don’t think you feel like a star.” Minaj was the lone “no” vote, however, and Schimel was on her way to Hollywood, uttering The X Factor’sCeCeFrey line that critique is “a good thing.”

Iowa rocker GabeBrown, a baker bearing gifts of cookies, was discovered during the show’s new auditioning method of finding talent through small-town bus tours. Brown bears a resemblance to Idol alum ChrisSligh, but that is where the similarity ends. Brown simply wailed on a cover of The Rolling Stones' “Gimme Shelter,” and the judges were excited, as the show hasn’t found a legit rock guy a la JamesDurbin in auditions yet. Carey wanted to hear something softer, and Gabe complied, but he couldn’t help howling at the moon at the end with a cover of Steel Dragon’s “We All Die Young” (Major bonus points earned with me for referencing a MarkWahlberg movie, Rock Star. Can Brown pretty please do “Stand Up and Shout” next?) “When you do your rock thing, I believe you,” said Minaj. Urban points out that “guys with big massive belting voices have big hearts.” Said Carey, “You don’t need a microphone."

IsabelParrell cajoled Urban into singing the male part of “Baby, It’s Cold Outside.” She has a sweet and breathy tone. Carey loved it because it’s a Christmas song. Urban was charmed that she wrote a note at the bottom that instructed him to send her to Hollywood. Minaj said she looks like a star, but Jackson was the lone dissenting vote. But he even liked the note she wrote at the bottom of his lyric sheet that said he should send her on to Hollywood.

Did you know Mariah is the 62nd most popular name in the world? Apparently this is so. Enter MariahPulice, a recovering anorexic with a heartbreaking story of her struggle with the disease. The whole package reminded me of Jillian Jensen’sbullying story on The X Factor, and it set up her powerful audition of The Beatles classic “Let It Be.” "I know what it's like to have to sing through tears. It's really difficult,” said Carey. All the judges, touched by her story, sent her through, and Pulice said she felt beautiful for “the first time in so long.”

Curtis FinchJr., a tutor from Missouri who was a member of Ledet’s Hollywood Week group, came in ready to take the judging panel to church, and he did it with gospel singer SmokieNorfu’s “God Be Able.” This impressed Jackson -- and the panel, who sent the season 11 hopeful back to Hollywood. Can we get an amen?

Brandy Neely is another returning Hollywood Week contestant, but this time she gets to audition in front of her favorite artist, Urban, whose record she bought when she was just 9. The Kentucky teen impressed with HankWilliams’ “Your Cheatin’ Heart,” a song her grandfather used to sing. She’s off to Hollywood once more; will she make the cut this time?

Johnny Keyser, the Florida contestant who was cut during Hollywood Week last season, then teased as a potential wild card (only to be passed over for JermaineJones), returned for another shot, this time auditioning with OtisRedding’s “Try a Little Tenderness.” Keyser is still as handsome as he was last season, and Minaj commenced flirting immediately, while Urban predicted Keyser won’t be “girlfriendless for long.” Jackson, of course, kept the focus on singing and said he likes “when people come back. …You show that you really want it.” He just hoped that Keyser did the necessary work so he didn’t “crash and burn” again.

KezBan, a self-described “fire performer,” had no problems being interviewed on camera but warned that if she was going to be used in a blooper reel that would embarrass her family, she was ready to bail! Whoa! Ban, decked in a fedora, is quite possibly the quirkiest entry into the competition thus far, and her audition of “I've Got No Strings” from Pinocchio, as well as an original, were revelations. Ban is quite simply an amazing vocalist, with an interesting voice and delivery that is indie and cool -- and versatile, to say the least.” I can feel the realness in you, that you really are that person that you sing about,” one judge said. Plus, after earning a ticket to Hollywood, she deadpanned to Seacrest that excitement won’t come until the “shock” wears off, and then complained about doing paperwork! Note to producers: More Ban, please! She must survive Hollywood Week!

The last singer of the night is always a tearjerker, and Thursday was no different. Cuba-born LazaroArbos has a terrible stuttering problem. It’s so bad, his parents said the boy doesn’t have any friends. However, he has music, which is always a powerful healer. When he entered the audition, he told Carey that speaking was like a “ro-ro-ro-roller coaster,” but then he proceeded to sing Simon and Garfunkel’s “Bridge Over Troubled Water,” and the stutter completely vanished. That is what music is all about! "Your story is very, very inspiring," said Carey. "I think you brought a really great vibe into the room." Four yeses to Hollywood, and waterworks all over Twitter.

The Bad

Massage therapist Melissa Bush (no relation to President George W. Bush, as Minaj unearthed) reported for duty in a horrid pink and silver jumpsuit -- not a good fashion choice. Her gift to Jackson, “Get Down DAWG,” was a nice touch, but the girl was interrupted after she opened her mouth and delivered a painful rendition of “Downtown” by PetulaClark,prompting Urban to retort, “Check, please.” Minaj tried to be pleasant, “You’ll always be my Bush,” she said, which disgusted Carey.

Iowa's KevinNabity -- who cited the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles as a musical muse (?) -- told Minaj he loves computer animation and dancing before he launched into a glorious rendition of “One Week” by Barenaked Ladies. It started almost normal, but as he continues, the song devolved into something Jackson described as a “bad auction,” complete with a subtitle treatment. But Minaj couldn’t get enough, and asked him to sing something else. Bavity responded by desecrating Chicago homeboys Styx’s “Come Sail Away,” and he was promptly shown the door.

Professional dancer IesihaCotton seemed to think she was auditioning for So You Think You Can Dance, showing off her moves before slaughtering Ashanti’s “Thank You.” Carey, holding back laughter, said, "I was going to delicately suggest that you might want to stay more with the dancing thing.” Jackson, whom I love more and more each episode, bluntly stated, “You’re tone deaf.” Snap!

Finally, you knew it had to happen: an Idol bad singers montage inspired by Les Miserables -- “The Miserables.” This was pure comedy and set the stage for the worst and most hilarious vocal of the night: Ashley Curry, who took on “Mamma Knows Best,” by Jessie J. This was not the inspiring vocal we heard of the same song in New York, and it was so spectacularly sung in the key of a screeching cat that Carey had to get up from her chair as she couldn’t contain her laughter. “You sing in the theater?” Jackson asked. “Is the sound off?” The best was when Carey and Minaj had a little fun with the theater major, encouraging her to create a scene from Cinderella as an improv. Classic.

Honorable mentions: Clifton Duffin, whose parents never heard him sing until his audition of Luther Vandross’ “Superstar,” prompted this revelation from Minaj: “My mother never heard me rap before I made it.” Interesting. Also through: Josh Holiday, Courtney Williams, Andrew Jones and a slew of other people whose auditions the producers didn’t bother one second of airtime.

Watch Lazaro Arbos audition below:

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So what do you think, Worshippers? Who were your favorites tonight? Who will cut it in Hollywood? Let us know in the comments below!